TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old woman from New Jersey, was identified as the victim fatally stabbed in an apparently random and unprovoked attack in New York City's Times Square on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Piacenti was one of two people stabbed in the busy Manhattan tourist district during the afternoon attack. The other victim, a 68-year-old man, survived and was hospitalized.
Police later shot and killed the woman accused of carrying out the attacks after she allegedly refused repeated orders to drop two knives.
So, who was Erin Piacenti?
A Bank of America Vice President, a Lawyer
Piacenti worked at Bank of America as a vice president in the Business Selection and Conflicts unit, according to her LinkedIn profile. She had joined the bank about 18 months before her death.
Matthew Koder, Bank of America's president of Global Corporate and Investment Banking, described Piacenti as a valued member of her team in an internal memo seen by Reuters.
"Erin was a valued member of the Business Selection and Conflicts team, having joined the bank 18 months ago," Koder wrote, as cited by The Guardian. "Her loss is being felt deeply by many."
Bank of America also confirmed her death in a statement to the Associated Press.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague. She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones," the bank said.
Piacenti's workplace was close to Times Square. Bank of America's Manhattan office is located at One Bryant Park, a short distance from where she was attacked.
Koder said the bank's security teams were supporting the police investigation and reviewing safety measures following Piacenti's death.
Before joining Bank of America, Piacenti pursued a legal education.
She earned her law degree from Fordham Law School in 2021, graduating alongside her husband, Frank Piacenti, who is also a lawyer. Fordham Law said it was heartbroken by her death.
Piacenti had previously studied at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2016, according to reports citing her public profiles.
Her Life in New Jersey
Piacenti was from Chester, New Jersey, where she lived with her husband.
According to People, the couple had recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary and purchased their first home in Chester.
Her family has requested privacy following her death.
What Happened in Times Square?
Idaho News reported that the attack unfolded at around 4:24 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, one of the busiest areas in Manhattan.
According to police, Pamela Cisneros, a 49-year-old woman from Queens, was carrying two large knives and attacked two people in quick succession. The first victim was a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway. Piacenti was attacked shortly afterward and suffered a stab wound to the abdomen. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she later died.
Police described the attack as random and unprovoked and said there was no indication that it was an act of terrorism.
Cisneros then moved toward a nearby NYPD substation while still carrying the knives. Officers repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapons.
During the confrontation, Cisneros allegedly threatened the officers.
"I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch quoted Cisneros as saying. Tisch said Cisneros then repeated, "I will kill you."
Officers deployed Tasers before two officers fired their service weapons, killing Cisneros.
The NYPD said Cisneros had a documented history of mental-health-related encounters with police but no prior arrest history. The investigation into the attack remains ongoing.
For Bank of America, the attack also prompted security concerns. Koder said the bank's security teams were "fully engaged in supporting the police investigation here, and in addressing the ongoing safety and security of our offices and teammates."
